Panos Karnezis crafts narratives that delve into the intricate relationships between individuals and their communities, often setting his stories against distinct geographical and historical backdrops. His writing is characterized by its keen psychological insight into characters and a refined prose that evokes atmosphere and the subtlest human emotions. He explores themes of identity, memory, and the impact of history on the present moment. Karnezis invites readers into profound reflections on the human condition.
At once timely and timeless, this powerful and absorbing novel by Panos Karnezis explores the price of peace and security through the intimate motivations and moral dilemmas of people bound together by fate and circumstance.
"In a remote corner of a Latin American rainforest, Father Thomas, a Catholic priest, comes across a badly wounded soldier and takes him to his church in an Indian village. The Indians, whose traditional way of life is under threat from outsiders, are wary of this latest new arrival. Venustiano, the proud young head of the village, is determined to protect his people, but feels powerless against the forces around him u and can trust nobody, not even Father Thomas. But his immediate problem is the bloodthirsty jaguar prowling around the village: for Venustiano is the only Indian with a gun, and he means to use it."
The novel intricately explores themes of justice and injustice within a confined society, delving into theological debates and the complexities of human behavior. It presents a vivid tapestry of despair, cruelty, and generosity, interwoven with elements of scandal and suspicion. The narrative is crafted with remarkable skill, offering a compelling look at the darker aspects of community life, ultimately capturing the profound struggles and moral dilemmas faced by its characters.
Anatolia, 1922. A retreating Greek brigade has lost its way. Pursued by a Turkish army seeking vengeance for three years of Greek occupation, and commanded by a brigadier with a passion for Greek mythology and an addiction to morphia, the brigade's only chance of salvation is to reach the Mediterranean coast and sail home. As the army wanders through the Anatolian desert, their internal divisions become more pronounced and their dementias more florid. Eventually they reach a small town, up until now untouched by the war, which is run by a simple-minded mayor and is peopled by a gallery of wonderfully strange characters. When the soldiers leave at last, a tragedy has taken place and the town has changed forever.
In a nameless Greek village, the lives of its diverse citizens and animals intertwine, revealing hidden crimes and infamies. This rich tapestry of characters, including a priest, a whore, and a centaur, explores themes of passion, cruelty, and dark humor in their interconnected stories.